Attack on Gagneja: BJP, RSS leaders meet CM

Delegations of BJP and RSS today met Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal here and expressed concern over "deteriorating" law and order in the state in the wake of the attack on Sangh leader Jagdish Gagneja.
Badal assured the delegations the peace and communal harmony would remain the top priority of the government.
He reiterated his government's resolve to continue policy of "zero tolerance" against attempt to disturb peace and communal harmony in Punjab.
RSS (Punjab) Vice President, Jagdish Gagneja was attacked in Jalandhar on Saturday night and he is admitted in a hospital.
The BJP delegation led by state party chief and Union minister Vijay Sampla sought speedy arrest of accused.

"We expressed concern over the law and order in the state during our meeting. We said appropriate steps need to be taken to prevent such incidents in future," he said.

Punjab DGP Suresh Arora was also present during the meet.
The Chief Minister asked the state police chief to ensure the highest degree of vigil against elements with nefarious designs to divide the society on sectarian or communal lines in the wake of coming Assembly elections.
"There was never a time that any RSS leader was attacked in the state and it has now happened. Therefore, we fear such incidents can reoccur in future. We need to be alert and steps need to be taken to contain anti-social elements," said Sampla.

A delegation of senior RSS leaders also demanded speedy investigation into the incident.
RSS leaders conveyed displeasure over "deteriorating" law and order situation in the state.
Whether it was the attack on Shakha in Ludhiana or the day-light murder of Mata Chand Kaur or incidents of kidnapping and snatching, the common man is feeling insecure, it said.
Both, the CM and his Deputy condemned the attack.
Meanwhile, a four-member Special Investigation Team headed by ADGP-cum-Director, Bureau of Investigation, Sahota has been set up to investigate the attack.
Deputy Chief Minister, who also heads the Home Department, said he is personally monitoring the law & order situation on a day to day basis.

"There will be no compromise on the issue of peace and communal harmony in Punjab. These are sacred ideals for us. Those who try to disrupt peace must prepare to pay an unbearable penalty for their actions," he said.
"The government cannot rule out the tendency in some quarters to be cynical in the use of unscrupulous means for cheap and petty political gains," the Chief Minister said.
He said the state has to guard against such attempts by "over-ambitious and frustrated elements" to to drive a wedge between brotherly communities and inflame passions for communalising the situation.
"Police and other wings of administration must be ready to respond to such challenges most sternly and expeditiously, with zero loss of time," he said and appealed people to "beware the vicious and divisive propaganda".

"The wheels of progress in the state are moving at an unprecedented speed. That is why the government's opponents are trying desperately to shift the agenda from development to other issues like violence and unrest," said Badal.
The Chief Minister said some cynical elements have been active in the state for sometime.
"These people have been found to be capable of denigrating sacred religious symbols and committing other outrageous acts to disturb peace in the state so that the agenda of progress and development is pushed on the back-burner. These tendencies and the dangers to the peace that they pose must be thwarted," he said.